Device for simulataneously casing a hole while drilling

ABSTRACT

A driving device for installing a pipe or casing, without the use of hydraulic or pneumatic means, by capturing the rotational motion of the drill string. The driving device is placed at the top end of the pipe being ( 42 ) installed and the drill string ( 2 ) passes through the center of the device. The drill string freely rotates, advances or retracts within the driving device, until the driving device is attached ( 4 ) to the drill string when required. When the driving device is attached to the drill string, the rotational force of the drill string and any downward force applied to the drill string are captured, and used to install the pipe. The driving device uses the rotation of the drill string to impact a blow to the pipe, driving the pipe downward. The driving device uses any downward force applied to the drill string to maintain downward pressure on the pipe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Provisional U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/398,990, filed Jul. 29, 2002.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to installation of pipes into aformation, or crust of the earth, while constructing a borehole. Moreparticularly, the invention may be used with different types of rotarydrill rigs and rotary devices to install a casing in a hole while thehole is being drilled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drilling a well hole typically involves drilling to a certain depth witha drill bit mounted on a drill string, then removing the drill stringfrom the hole in order to case the hole. The pipe or casing is driveninto the hole by repeated impact. Generally it is not desirable to drilltoo far down before casing the hole, as the sides of an uncased hole maybe susceptible to collapse and to leaks from the surrounding formation.The drill-then-case process has to be repeated several times to producea deep hole. Drilling a hole can therefore be a time-consuming process.To maximize production and profits, it is necessary to minimize the timespent completing a hole.

Advancing a pipe into the earth usually requires costly, heavy andcumbersome equipment, including a massive driving device to eitherdevelop the impact energy or to transmit impact energy to the pipe orcasing. The device must be securely mounted on a drill rig,necessitating modifications to the drill rig to be able to handle thedriving device. Existing driving devices are generally large and requireadditional equipment for their operation, such as hydraulic pumps or aircompressors. Once installed on a rig, a driving device is usuallydifficult to remove.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,680 to Cook discloses a hammer by which a pipe maybe driven into the ground, without any type of drilling mechanism. Aheavy, hollow ram is raised by a pair of air cylinders mounted on theoutside of the ram. The ram travels downward transmitting a blow to thepipe being installed. The force of the blow is determined by the weightof the ram. The system requires an external source of compressed air anda complex control system. The force of the impact is not adjustable, asmight be desired when casing in softer or less dense strata.

Drilling equipment or drilling rigs come in various sizes, withdifferent hoisting systems and various tower configurations. A commonapproach is to modify the tower and equipment to adapt to the drivingdevice. Due to the size and operational methods, several drilling rigshave towers and hoisting capabilities, which are too small to adapt tothe installation of conventional casing driving equipment.

It is known in the art to case the hole while drilling as a means ofimproving the speed and efficiency of the drilling process. The presentinvention relies on a simple casing driver which is small, easy tohandle and adaptable for various drilling rigs, in contrast to many ofthe other prior art devices, which rely on heavy, cumbersome machineryand require special handling procedures. Further, the prior art devices,generally being controlled by hydraulic or pneumatic means, require anindependent source of power, and controls for that power.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,072 to Back illustrates a drilling machine includinga casing-driving element. While the device is intended to be relativelylow weight and portable, it still requires an external source ofhydraulic pressure, and a complex intermittent pressure regulationsystem to operate the driver.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,752 to Hauk et al. employs a lightweight, shortstroke annular piston, while increasing the rate of impact on thecasing. Each individual impact is low energy, which is compensated bythe increased frequency of the impacts. As in Cook, the piston ispneumatically driven. The driver further includes a complex set of valvechambers and passages to maximize the efficiency of pneumatic system.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,757, Anderson et al. disclose a casing hammerassembly containing a central aperture surrounding a drill string. Todrive the casing, a reciprocating hammer strikes an impact anvilsurrounding the central aperture. Anderson et al. manage to avoid theuse of pneumatic or hydraulic means to operate the hammer, insteadreciprocating the hammer by use of an eccentric arrangement. Thisarrangement involves sprockets and chains driven by a rotating shaft andsleeve. The shaft itself is driven by a motor, which requires its ownpower source. However, the relatively complex arrangement of chains andsprockets between the shaft and the hammer leaves the entire assemblymore vulnerable to failure. The use of a separate motor results in anadditional part that could fail or need maintenance. Further, the entireassembly is suspended from the drilling rig above the casing pipe by aset of cable pulleys and cables, which could cause problems with thestorage of the driver when not in use.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,209 to Allyn et al. discloses a device for theremoval of casing. The device disclosed by Allyn et al. relies upon anexisting pneumatic hammer drill for it to operate, and a source ofpower. Allyn et al. rotates the pipe or casing to install it, whichrequires that the ends of the each pipe be threaded.

It is one object of the invention to provide a new method of advancingpipe into the earth.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of advancingpipe without the need for air or hydraulics to operate the device.

It is an object of the invention to provide a driving device which isversatile, in that it may be used on virtually any existing drill rigswithout modification to the drill rigs in order to use the driver.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a driving devicewhich is easily attached to a string of drilling tools being rotated bya drilling rig or rotating device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a driving devicewhich, once attached to the drill string, can be selectively operated,allowing the drill crew to drill without hammering, yet withoutphysically removing the driver from the drill string.

These and other objects of the invention will be appreciated byreference to the summary of the invention and to the detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment that follow. It will beappreciated that all of the foregoing objectives may not be satisfiedsimultaneously by the preferred embodiment or by each of the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a driving device for driving pipes or casing into theground while a hole is being drilled. The driving device is placed on arotary drill stem, above the casing. If the driving device is notattached directly to the drill stem, the stem may be rotated, advancedor retracted freely. However, once the driver is clamped to the drillstem, it harnesses the rotational force of the drill stem to provide avertical impact force to the pipe or casing. Because the driver impactsthe casing twice for every rotation of the drill stem, the frequency ofthe impacts varies with the speed of the drill stem.

The driving device uses the existing rotary drill string and itscontrols to enable handling and operation functions and tosimultaneously install a casing as the hole is drilled. Because thedriving device makes contact with the drill string, and uses thedownward pressure and rotation of the string to install a casing, thereis no need for external hydraulic or pneumatic equipment to operate thedriving device.

Because of its simplicity, the driving device is relatively small, andcan be transported in a light service truck. The driving device can beused with many types of rotary drilling equipment, or rotating devices,without modifying them.

The device is easily operated by a technician versed in installation ofcasing while drilling a hole. A machinist, qualified in the operation ofmilling and lathe equipment, can manufacture the device in a machineshop from available metals.

In one aspect the invention comprises a method of installing a pipe orcasing, comprising the steps of capturing rotational force supplied byan external driver, storing energy derived from the rotational force,converting the energy to an impact force, and transmitting the impactforce to the pipe or casing. The invention may further comprisecapturing a downward force applied to the external driver andtransmitting the downward force to the pipe or casing.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a device, using an externaldriver, to install a pipe or casing, comprising a first portion adaptedto capture an axial rotational force supplied by the external driveralong a central axis, a second portion adapted to store energy derivedfrom the external driver's rotational force and to convert the storedenergy to an impact force, and a third portion adapted to transmit theimpact force to the pipe or casing. The invention may further comprise afourth portion, namely a shaft shaped to encircle the external driverwhile fitting within the first, second and third portions along thecentral axis.

In one aspect of the first embodiment of the invention, the firstportion of the invention may comprise a carrier device surrounding asection of the external driver, and means, such as slips or clamps, toconnect the carrier device to the external driver. The carrier devicemay comprise a generally hollow cylinder, adapted to accommodate asection of the external driver through an axially central aperture andto accommodate part or all of the second portion of the device.

In a further aspect, the second portion may comprise an upper portion,which rotates about a central axis under the rotational force of thedriver, and a lower portion. The upper and lower portions may furthercomprise facing inclined surfaces which cooperate to move the upperportion away from the lower portion along the central axis upon partialrotation of the upper and lower portions, and further cooperate to allowthe upper portion to move back towards the lower portion along thecentral axis upon further relative rotation of the upper and lowerportions. The further cooperation may comprise a sudden cessation ofdirect contact between the inclined surfaces.

In another aspect, the invention may include at least one spring, whichcompresses and expands as the upper portion and lower portion move awayfrom and toward each other.

In a further aspect, the third portion may comprise an upper surface,adapted to receive an impact force from the second portion, and a lowersurface in direct contact with an uppermost part of the pipe or casing.The third portion may further comprise an outlet to allow air to escapefrom the third portion.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises a device for installing apipe or casing using an external rotary driver which produces arotational force, comprising means to directly connect the device to theexternal rotary driver, a central shaft encircling a portion of theexternal rotary driver, a hammer, an anvil, one or more springs and agenerally cylindrical carrier device. The carrier device and hammer maybe operatively connected to rotate in concert under the rotationalforce, such that the rotational force causes the hammer to provide afirst impact force to the anvil, and the first impact force causes theanvil to provide a second impact force to the pipe or casing.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises a device for installing apipe or casing, using an external driver, comprising a first portionadapted to capture an axial rotational force supplied by the externaldriver along a central axis, and a second portion adapted to storeenergy derived from the rotational force, to convert the energy to animpact force and to transmit the impact force to the pipe or casing.

In one aspect, the first portion of this embodiment of the invention maycomprise a carrier device surrounding a section of the external driverand means, such as slips or clamps, to connect the carrier device to theexternal driver. In another aspect, the carrier device may be agenerally hollow cylinder, with an axially central aperture toaccommodate a section of the external driver and adapted to accommodatepart or all of the second portion of the device.

In a further aspect, the second portion may comprise an upper portion,which rotates about a central axis under the rotational force of thedriver, and a lower portion. The upper and lower portions may furthercomprise facing inclined surfaces which cooperate to move the upperportion away from the lower portion along the central axis upon partialrotation of the upper and lower portions, and further cooperate to allowthe upper portion to move back towards the lower portion along thecentral axis upon further relative rotation of the upper and lowerportions. The further cooperation may comprise a sudden cessation ofdirect contact between the inclined surfaces. The second portion mayfurther comprise an outlet to allow air to escape from the secondportion.

In another aspect, the invention may include at least one spring, whichcompresses and expands as the upper portion and lower portion move awayfrom and toward each other.

In another aspect, this embodiment of the invention may further comprisea third portion, namely a shaft shaped to encircle the external driverwhile fitting within the first and second portions along the centralaxis.

In another aspect, each embodiment may further comprise means to capturea downward force applied to the external driver, to store the captureddownward force, and to transmit the stored downward force to the pipe orcasing. One or more springs may be used to capture, store and transmitthe downward force, and the transmittal may be essentially constantthrough the installation procedure.

The foregoing was intended as a broad summary only and of only some ofthe aspects of the invention. It was not intended to define the limitsor requirements of the invention. Other aspects of the invention will beappreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferredembodiment and to the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by referenceto the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the driver, clamped into place on a drillstem above a pipe or casing.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the driver.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the driver of FIG. 1, in anextended, or loaded, position.

FIG. 3A is a perspective cutaway view of the carrier component of thedriver.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the driver of FIG. 1, in an extended,or loaded, position.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the driver of FIG. 1, in an impactposition.

FIG. 4A is a perspective cutaway view of the hammer component of thedriver.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the driver of FIG. 1, in an impactposition.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the driver of FIG. 1, in apartially loaded position.

FIG. 5A is a perspective cutaway view of the sub anvil component of thedriver.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the driver of FIG. 1, in a partiallyloaded position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the invention relates to a driving device which maybe installed directly on a drill stem 2 to assist in driving a pipe orcasing 42 into the ground. In operation, the driver is attached directlyto drill stem 2 via any suitable mechanism, such as clamps or slips 4.Anvil 40, at the lowermost end of the driving device, rests on the topedge of pipe or casing 42. When the drill stem 2 is to be operatedwithout hammering a pipe or casing 42, clamps or slips 4 may bereleased, allowing free rotation, advancement or retraction of the drillstem 2 without affecting the driving device.

The individual components of the preferred embodiment of the inventionare best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Clamps or slips 4 rest on top ofcarrier 6. Carrier 6 (best illustrated in FIG. 3A) is a generallycylindrical piece with a central aperture 46 through which the drillstem 2 (shown in FIG. 1 only) extends. In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the topside of carrier 6 is formed to securely holdclamps or slips 4, though it will be understood that clamps or slips 4may be attached to carrier 6 in any appropriately secure manner. Theunderside 48 of carrier 6 is hollow, the purpose of which is explainedbelow.

Typically, a downward force is applied to drill stem 2, via pull downchains or like equipment. Inner advance spring 12 captures the downwardforce applied to drill stem 2, as explained below. Inner advance spring12 may be encased, for example, in a spring carrier, which may comprisea top section 10 and bottom section 14. The spring carrier is intendedto hold inner advance spring 12 in an optimum vertical position,allowing for the most efficient energy transfer during operation of thedriving device.

Dust seals, such as those illustrated at 8 and 34, may be employed toseal the assembly and prevent damage that may be caused by flying debrisduring drilling and driving operations.

Thrust bearing 16 and sub anvil receiver plate 18 between inner advancespring 12 and outer hammer spring 22 distribute all vertical forcesevenly around the circumference of the driving device, ensuring allforces are properly vertically directed. This ensures that pipe orcasing 42 is being driven or pulled exactly in the desired direction,without wasting energy by dissipating it laterally from the drivingdevice.

Hammer 26 comprises a generally cylindrical piece, with a centralaperture. The diameter of the upper portion of hammer 26, which shall bereferred to as the upper cam surface, is such that it fits inside thehollow underside 48 of carrier 6, with the central aperture 46 ofcarrier 6 and the central aperture of hammer 26 being generally aligned.A partial view of hammer 26 is shown in FIG. 4A.

Outer hammer spring 22 is sized to fit around the outside of the uppercam surface of hammer 26. A diametrically larger portion of the hammer26 creates a shoulder 50 around the circumference of hammer 26. Theshoulder 50 prevents outer hammer spring 22 from completely sliding downaround hammer 26. Outer hammer spring 22 is thereby kept in placebetween the shoulder 50 and the lowermost edge of carrier 6.

FIG. 1 best illustrates the interconnection of carrier 6 and hammer 26to contain the upper dust seal 8, inner advance spring 12, inner springcarrier 10, 14, thrust bearing 16 and sub anvil receiver plate 18 in thehollow underside 48 of carrier 6, as well as the placement of outerhammer spring 22.

When assembling the driving device, sub anvil 24 is threaded through thecentral aperture of hammer 26, such that hammer 26 rests on a lowerimpact plate 28 at the bottom of the sub anvil. The lower impact plate28 may be used to hold the hammer 26 in the proper position relative tosub anvil 24, as well as to evenly distribute any downward impact of thehammer 26. Sub anvil receiver plate 18, thrust bearing 16, inner springcarrier 10, 14, inner advance spring 12 and upper dust seal 8 arelikewise threaded onto sub anvil 24. The assembly is topped with carrier6, with sub anvil 24 partially extending through the central aperture 46of carrier 6.

Sub anvil 24 provides a stable central shaft for the driving device,which allows the driving device to surround drill stem 2 withoutinterference unless slips or clamps 4 are engaged to fasten the drivingdevice to the drill stem 2. While FIG. 1 shows sub anvil 24 with aninner diameter just larger than the outer diameter of drill stem 2, subanvil 24 also allows the use of the driving device on a drill stem 2with a narrower diameter. The inner diameter of sub anvil 24 ispreferably sufficiently large that drill stem 2 does not interfere withsub anvil 24, or cause it to rotate.

Means such as splines 20 (best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) may be used tointerlock the upper cam surface of hammer 26 with grooves 44 in theunderside 48 of carrier 6 (as shown in FIG. 3A), thereby ensuring thatrotation of drill stem 2 is properly transmitted to hammer 26. Hammer 26and carrier 6 therefore move in concert.

The lower edge of the diametrically enlarged portion of hammer 26comprises an inclined surface 52. The inclined surface 52 interacts withthe upper surface 54 of cam 30, which is likewise inclined. Inclinedsurfaces 52, 54 culminate in one or more points or tips. Wheel or rollerdevices may be placed at the points or tips, to ensure smoothinteraction of inclined surfaces 52, 54. The interaction of the inclinedsurfaces 52, 54 is explained in more detail below.

The bottom surface of lower impact plate 28 rests on the anvil face 32.Cam 30 encircles the joint between lower impact plate 28 and anvil 40and may be bolted in place to ensure close contact between anvil face 32and lower impact plate 28.

The lower end of anvil 40 is designed to accommodate the end of pipe orcasing 42. As shown in FIG. 1, pipe or casing 42 may fit inside thelower end of anvil 40, where pipe or casing 42 abuts a shoulder. Thelower end of anvil 40 may also fit inside pipe or casing 42, such thatthe driving device is capable of driving pipes or casing 42 of varyingdiameters. Impact forces from the hammer 26 are transmitted through theanvil 40 to the uppermost edge of pipe or casing 42, thereby drivingpipe or casing 42 into the ground.

For clarity, all parts of the driving device from the lower impact plate28 and below will be referred to as the lower portion of the drivingdevice. The lower portion of the driving device does not rotate.Friction between the lower surface of the anvil 40 and the pipe orcasing 42 prevents anvil 40 from moving with the rotation of drill stem2.

The driving device further comprises anvil outlet 36, which may beconnected to anvil 40 via any suitable means, such as anvil outletretainer 38. Anvil outlet 36 prevents air inside the pipe or casing 42from absorbing the impact energy of hammer 26 striking anvil 40. Anviloutlet 36 may also be oriented such that it abuts a portion of thesupporting drilling rig, further preventing rotation of the lowerportion of the driving device.

The operation of the driving device to install a pipe or casing 42 maybe described by reference to FIGS. 3, 3B, 4, 4B, 5 and 5B. In operation,a constant downward force is applied to drill stem 2, in addition to anyrotational force. Such downward force is applied through use of pulldown chains or like equipment. For example, a weight, which may be onthe order of 50,000 pounds, may be attached to drill stem 2. Thedownward force compresses inner advance spring 12, as shown in FIGS. 3and 3B, and pre-loads outer hammer spring 22.

Drill stem 2 rotates and advances, causing a similar rotation in carrier6. Because splines 20 (shown only in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) connect hammer 26to carrier. 6, carrier 6 rotation causes hammer 26 to rotate in concert.As cam 30 is bolted to the immovable lower portion of the drivingdevice, the inclined upper surface 54 of cam 30 does not rotate. Theinclined lower surface 52 at the lower edge of the diametricallyenlarged portion of hammer 26 therefore interacts with the inclinedupper edge 54 of cam 30 as hammer 26 rotates. The interaction of the twoinclined surfaces 52, 54 forces hammer 26 up towards its extended orloaded position and further compresses spring 22, storing energy. Therotation of hammer 26 continues, until eventually the interactinginclined surfaces 52, 54 reach the point illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 3B,where only small points on the inclined surfaces 52, 54 are in contactwith one another. At this point, the driving device is in its fullyextended or loaded position.

Further rotation of the drill stem 2 and the hammer 26 causes the pointsthat were in contact in FIGS. 3 and 3B to slip past each other, as shownin FIGS. 4 and 4B. Upon the sudden release of upward pressure, the lowerportion of hammer 26 moves downward rapidly, impacting anvil 40 (throughlower impact plate 28, if present) and driving pipe or casing 42 down.Springs 12, 22 are released from compression, adding stored energy tothe downward force exerted on pipe or casing 42. The driving device isthus in an impact position.

Continued rotation of the drill stem 2 and hammer 26 resets the drivingdevice for another blow. The inclined surface 52 of the hammer 26 slidesover the inclined surface 54 of cam 30, again compressing the spring 22and storing energy for the next driving impact. The interaction of theinclined surfaces 52, 54 between blows of the hammer 26, when the deviceis in a partially loaded position, is best shown in FIGS. 5 and 5B.Because the inclined surface 54 of cam 30 contains two points, thehammer 26 strikes two blows for each rotation of drill stem 2.

During rotation of drill stem 2 between blows, inner advance spring 12provides a constant downward force on pipe or casing 42, arising fromthe downward force applied to the drill stem 2. The constant downwardforce keeps the driving device in constant contact with pipe or casing42, preventing recoil of the driving device immediately after impact.Recoil prevention is important in order to ensure maximum energytransfer through the driving device, as well as to ensure the lower endof the anvil 40 and the upper end of pipe or casing 42 remain aligned,which could damage both the driving device and pipe or casing 42. Theconstant downward pressure also keeps pipe or casing 42 moving downward,increasing the efficiency of the driving device and preventing recoil ofpipe or casing 42. This is particularly important immediately followingimpact, when pipe or casing 42 would normally tend to rebound out of theground.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variationsto the preferred embodiment described herein may be practised withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, such scope being properlydefined by the following claims.

1. A device for installing a pipe or casing, using an external driver,comprising: a first portion adapted to capture an axial rotational forcesupplied by said external driver along a central axis; a second portionadapted to store energy derived from said rotational force and toconvert said energy to an impact force; and a third portion adapted totransmit said impact force to said pipe or casing.
 2. The device ofclaim 1 wherein said external driver is a rotary drill stem.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said first portion comprises: a carrier devicesurrounding a section of said external driver; and means to connect saidcarrier device to said external driver.
 4. The device of claim 3 whereinsaid means to connect said carrier device comprises clamps to directlyengage said external driver.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said meansto connect said carrier device comprises slips to directly engage saiddriver.
 6. The device of claim 3 wherein said carrier device comprises agenerally hollow cylinder, adapted to accommodate a section of saidexternal driver through an axially central aperture and to accommodatepart of said second portion of said device.
 7. The device of claim 1wherein said first portion is further adapted to capture a downwardforce applied to said external driver, to store said captured downwardforce, and to transmit said stored downward force to said pipe orcasing.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein said downward force iscaptured, stored and transmitted by one or more springs.
 9. The deviceof claim 7 where said transmittal of said downward force is essentiallyconstant as said pipe or casing is installed.
 10. The device of claim 1wherein said second portion comprises: an upper portion which rotatesabout said central axis under said rotational force; and a lowerportion.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein said upper portion furthercomprises a downward facing inclined surface.
 12. The device of claim 11wherein said lower portion further comprises an upward facing inclinedsurface.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said inclined surfacescooperate to move said upper portion away from said lower portion alongsaid central axis upon partial rotation of said upper and lowerportions, and further cooperate to allow said upper portion to move backtowards said lower portion along said central axis upon further relativerotation of said upper and lower portions.
 14. The device of claim 13wherein said further cooperation comprises a sudden cessation of directcontact between said inclined surfaces.
 15. The device of claim 14further comprising at least one spring, said at least one spring beingadapted to compress when said upper portion moves away from said lowerportion and adapted to expand when said upper portion moves back towardssaid lower portion.
 16. The device of claim 1 wherein said third portioncomprises: an upper surface, adapted to receive said impact force fromsaid second portion; and a lower surface in direct contact with anuppermost part of said pipe or casing.
 17. The device of claim 16wherein said third portion further comprises an outlet to allow air toescape from said third portion.
 18. The device of claim 1 furthercomprising a fourth portion, said fourth portion comprising a shaftshaped to encircle said external driver while fitting within said first,second and third portions along said central axis.
 19. A method ofinstalling a pipe or casing, comprising: capturing rotational forcesupplied by an external driver; storing energy derived from saidrotational force; converting said energy to an impact force; andtransmitting said impact force to said pipe or casing.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising: capturing a downward force applied to saidexternal driver; and transmitting said downward force to said pipe orcasing.
 21. A device for installing a pipe or casing using an externalrotary driver which produces a rotational force, comprising: means todirectly connect said device to said external rotary driver; a centralshaft encircling a portion of said external rotary driver; a hammer; ananvil; one or more springs; a generally cylindrical carrier device;wherein said carrier device and said hammer are operatively connected torotate in concert under said rotational force; wherein said rotationalforce causes said hammer to provide a first impact force to said anvil;and wherein said first impact force causes said anvil to provide asecond impact force to said pipe or casing.
 22. The device of claim 21wherein said means to connect said device to said external rotary drivercomprises clamps.
 23. The device of claim 21 wherein said means toconnect said device to said external rotary driver comprises slips. 24.The device of claim 21 wherein a downward force is applied to saidexternal rotary driver, and further comprising: one or more springsadapted to capture said downward force; and to transmit said downwardforce to said pipe or casing.
 25. The device of claim 24 where saidtransmittal of said downward force is essentially constant as said pipeor casing is installed.
 26. A device for installing a pipe or casing,using an external driver, comprising: a first portion adapted to capturean axial rotational force supplied by said external driver along acentral axis; and a second portion adapted to store energy derived fromsaid rotational force, to convert said energy to an impact force and totransmit said impact force to said pipe or casing.
 27. The device ofclaim 26 wherein said external driver is a rotary drill stem.
 28. Thedevice of claim 26 wherein said first portion comprises: a carrierdevice surrounding a section of said external driver; and means toconnect said carrier device to said external driver.
 29. The device ofclaim 28 wherein said means to connect said carrier device comprisesclamps to directly engage said external driver.
 30. The device of claim28 wherein said means to connect said carrier device comprises slips todirectly engage said driver.
 31. The device of claim 28 wherein saidcarrier device comprises a generally hollow cylinder, adapted toaccommodate a section of said external driver through an axially centralaperture and to accommodate part or all of said second portion of saiddevice.
 32. The device of claim 26 wherein said second portioncomprises: an upper portion which rotates about said central axis undersaid rotational force; and a lower portion.
 33. The device of claim 32wherein said upper portion further comprises a downward facing inclinedsurface.
 34. The device of claim 33 wherein said lower portion furthercomprises an upward facing inclined surface.
 35. The device of claim 34wherein said inclined surfaces cooperate to move said upper portion awayfrom said lower portion along said central axis upon partial rotation ofsaid upper and lower portions, and further cooperate to allow said upperportion to move back towards said lower portion along said central axisupon further relative rotation of said upper and lower portions.
 36. Thedevice of claim 35 wherein said further cooperation comprises a suddencessation of direct contact between said inclined surfaces.
 37. Thedevice of claim 36 further comprising at least one spring, said at leastone spring being adapted to compress when said upper portion moves awayfrom said lower portion and adapted to expand when said upper portionmoves back towards said lower portion.
 38. The device of claim 26wherein said second portion further comprises an outlet to allow air toescape from said second portion.
 39. The device of claim 26 furthercomprising a third portion, said third portion comprising a shaft shapedto encircle said external driver while fitting within said first andsecond portions along said central axis.
 40. The device of claim 26wherein a downward force is applied to said external driver, and furthercomprising: one or more springs adapted to capture said downward force;and to transmit said downward force to said pipe or casing.
 41. Thedevice of claim 40 where said transmittal of said downward force isessentially constant as said pipe or casing is installed.